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Final Fantasy X has long been a fan favourite since it arrived on PS2 with one of the highlights being the first Final Fantasy game to full voiced. Now, along with what at the time was deemed the first sequel to a Final Fantasy game, Final Fantasy X-2 have been brought together in HD to a new generation.
Both games here are the international versions, which in terms of Final Fantasy X, really means nothing to those in PAL regions; this was the version that we got when it originally came out but X-2 is completely new to all western regions. But we’ll explain the differences as we go through it.
Final Fantasy X
It’s been sometime since we last delved into the land of Spira in which the game takes place and it’s taken a bit of getting used to again after all those long hours on Square Enix other Final Fantasy release this year…oh how things have changed! The differences in the international version were the additions of an expert sphere grid (the system by which you improved your characters in the game but we’re lead to believe actually gives you lower stats than that of the standard one…don’t worry, we’re confused too!) plus the addition of the optional bosses the dark Aeons and Pennance. Lip syncing is still not perfect in the game either or in some circumstances we think that it may even be worse. Visually, the FMV still look absolutely beautiful (particularly the scene from the Lake featuring Sukenei De Na) and the game play does have it’s moments where you can spot the updating. It does appear that fonts have been given a update too all round, making them easier to read.The recorded scores work beautifully too.
Final Fantasy X: Eternal Calm
There’s not much for you to do here other than watch and listen. This video (which we first saw when it was packaged with Unlimited Saga) is your prologue to Final Fantasy X-2 and basically sets up the game by explain how Yuna gets to where she is at the start of the next game. It sadly isn’t a FMV but draws on in game character models which is a bit of shame sadly.
Final Fantasy X-2
This was, in essence, the first direct sequel ever to be made for a Final Fantasy game. Following on 2 years from the event of the original game, you take charge of Yuna as she takes on the role of Spherehunter alongside fellow Gullwings Rikku & Paine as they try to unravel the mysteries of spheres of a man who looks just like Tidus from the original. Game play isn’t as linear as the first one and there’s a bit more freedom of whether to head off straight to the next main mission or to head off to do a side quest to up your percent completed. Choices at certain points in the game do affect your percentage and can affect what ending you ultimately receive. Hence this is one of those games to make use of multiple playthroughs through new game+.
It’s back to good old grinding for levelling up and the ye old job system rears it’s head in the format of the dressspheres (defaults are Gunner for Yuna, Thief for Rikku & Warrior for Paine) and garment grids (which activating all the dresspheres on a grid allows you to access the special dresssphere for each character). Changes in the International version included two new dresspheres (Festivalist & Psychier) as well as an additional optional boss (Emerald who looks like a hybrid of all the standard Aeons from the first game). Again visually it looks beautiful.
Final Fantasy X-2: Last Mission
In the original Japanese release, Last Mission was a stand alone game but could feed off the game save from FFX-2. We’re not entirely sure whether this is still the case as it’s listed individually on the disc and we could wait to delve into the game and finally understand what we were doing (instead of random button pressing like we did with the Japanese version). This isn’t your standard dungeon though. Taking on the tower either as Yuna, Rikku or Paine, the idea is to climb to the top of tower by completing a number of floors. It’s not as easy as it firsts looks though as you contend with enemies and traps along the way, moving along a grid system. The highest we’ve achieved so far is floor 10…. Finally nice to see this little addition having been translated into English now.
Bonus Audio Drama & Credits
As it suggests, this is just an audio drama with concept art providing a background to it as well as the credits (we assume it’s those behind the re-master) while this ‘drama’ unfolds. In a sense, you would assume that it’s setting up for X-3 (more on this in a minute) We assume that it set after the events of X-2 but in all we find it a little confusing. We’ve heard that the novella Final Fantasy X-2.5 makes more sense than this. And no trophy for sitting through it? Yet one for Eternal Calm? Something doesn’t work out there….
Overall
It’s lovely to finally see both of these games finally out (we’ve only waited an additional year!). They might be in HD but there are still points that date them graphically speaking. Nice to see trophies being added although first glance we thought that it would be easy to secure the majority, we’re suddenly thinking again. We’d forgotten how at points both these games could be frustrating and challenging (and this time, there’s no cheat device to help us out!) But yet we can’t help fall in love with the games all over again. The limited edition version of this game came with a lovely little book of concept art for both games (though mainly the first) and unlike it’s last counterpart (Kingdom Hearts 1.5 –HD Remix-) there is artwork here that is likely not to have been seen until now as well as first press versions coming with Yuna’s Summoners Garb for Lightning Returns Final Fantasy XIII. Nice release for those who remember the original PS2 versions but also nice that it’s being brought to a new generation as well.
Rating: 4/5
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